Our skills are deplorable

[DeeSpencer 23,189]

Listen. With 8 blokes out tonight and some spuds in their place, we matched Carlton for contested balls, hard ball gets and tackles for most of the game.

That's desire and commitment.

Our structure was different tonight because of the injuries and the lack of ball carriers and shut down players in the back half. We had a 1st gamer, a 2nd gamer and other kids in.

I'm not a Bailey defender, but you just have to calm the hell down and look at this game for what it was.

Pretty accurate post I think. Bailey tried to bottle it up early and then swung a few changes in the second half. They didn't work, but there wasn't much more he could. The encouraging this is that the players are still playing for him at this stage.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

I'm normally one of the people who support the team in these situations, but tonight was simply embarrassing. They were pathetic and what's worse, most of them didn't seem to care. No fight, no fire, no effort. And sad to say I agree that the gameplan has to go. It's all very well forcing a turnover at half back, but what good is it when you look up and see nothing but opponents ahead of you?

[DeeZee 6,759]

Listen. With 8 blokes out tonight and some spuds in their place, we matched Carlton for contested balls, hard ball gets and tackles for most of the game.

That's desire and commitment.

Our structure was different tonight because of the injuries and the lack of ball carriers and shut down players in the back half. We had a 1st gamer, a 2nd gamer and other kids in.

I'm not a Bailey defender, but you just have to calm the hell down and look at this game for what it was.

Im very calm.

Im just saying we are not a good football side,injuries or not.

There could be potential there with the right coaching and a bit of luck with injuries,but we havent played well all year,even early when we had most players available.

Adelaide aside because we were stung by critisism badly that week.

They just cant seem to find that killer instinct unless they are bagged and berated, and have something to prove.

Its not good enough.....even the players themselves would say it

[Grapeviney 8,844]

It's all very well forcing a turnover at half back, but what good is it when you look up and see nothing but opponents ahead of you?

This is quickly becoming the story of our season

[Maldonboy38 5,930]

SO much is down to confidence. Where Melbourne hesitated Carlton didnt. .

This was crystal clear tonight. When the Blues got the forst goal after 1 minute into the 3 quarter, you could see the Melbourne boys slump. There hadn't been much fire before then but it was totally gone afterwards. And our backmen had clearly been told not to kick to a contest, except when kicking in after a point, then it is mandatory. There seems to be little confidence except in Sylvia and Jones.

.

[PeterJames 46]

Can't understand how we let other teams kick the ball freely around until the half back when decide to man up.

[daisycutter 28,601]

Can't understand how we let other teams kick the ball freely around until the half back when decide to man up.

effn frustrating isn't it!

conceding possession like that is analogous to defeatism, can't do much for confidence

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Listen. With 8 blokes out tonight and some spuds in their place, we matched Carlton for contested balls, hard ball gets and tackles for most of the game.

That's desire and commitment.

Choko, we had half their number of tackles numbers all night. There were 9 players that had not landed a tackle up to half time.

[Cards13 9,117]

Listen. With 8 blokes out tonight and some spuds in their place, we matched Carlton for contested balls, hard ball gets and tackles for most of the game.

"the lack of Melbourne pressure in its forward line at times embarrassing. Just before half-time, Carlton had registered 31 tackles in its forward half; the Demon tally was four."

From The Age...

Edited May 27, 2011 by Cards13

[Choko 493]

Choko, we had half their number of tackles numbers all night. There were 9 players that had not landed a tackle up to half time.

We had 12 less tackles - 69 to 81 on afl.com stats. I think we were close at half time on tackles as well.

Yes, we have too many passengers. No doubt at all.

Edited May 27, 2011 by Choko

[Cards13 9,117]

Choko, we had half their number of tackles numbers all night. There were 9 players that had not landed a tackle up to half time.

That is what sh!ts me to tears RR, it is not the injuries, the supposed "spuds" playing, the inability to break a zone, our fwds not able to have space to move into it is the lack of desrie to tackle, chase, hunt the opposition at all times. We are, and I hate using these terms, weak mentally, soft physically and lacking in leaders who will themselves/team mates to do the hard yards.

I am no fan of Dermott B's random pontificating but had to agree when I heard him say this week on the radio even our young guys like to play "bruise free football". We can draft all the Tapscotts in the world but if the supposed leaders are not showing the way it goes no where.

[beelzebub 22,225]

Choko, we had half their number of tackles numbers all night. There were 9 players that had not landed a tackle up to half time.

and just by way of interest whos responsibility/job/concern is it to not only encourage, but demand, that the effort required to do so is in fact given ?

just curious

[Choko 493]

"the lack of Melbourne pressure in its forward line at times embarrassing. Just before half-time, Carlton had registered 31 tackles in its forward half; the Demon tally was four."

From The Age...

Well, firstly, we are terrible in forward pressure. Refer Jurrah, Bate, Petterd. I'm not gonna defend that.

And it's Carlton's greatest strength.

But, you have to remember we spent under 15% of the first half inside our forward 50, which makes pressure in the forward line pretty difficult.

[Waltham33 409]

That is what sh!ts me to tears RR, it is not the injuries, the supposed "spuds" playing, the inability to break a zone, our fwds not able to have space to move into it is the lack of desrie to tackle, chase, hunt the opposition at all times.

Forward pressure last night was almost no-existent and pressuring and chasing does not even require much skill - just desire. Still annoys me thinking about last night

[Cards13 9,117]

Well, firstly, we are terrible in forward pressure. Refer Jurrah, Bate, Petterd. I'm not gonna defend that.

And it's Carlton's greatest strength.

But, you have to remember we spent under 15% of the first half inside our forward 50, which makes pressure in the forward line pretty difficult.

.... Chok.... come on mate because we spent so little time in our fwd 50 you can excuse the lack of 1%ers to allow us to keep the ball in the fwd half? No maka no sense to me.

Also it's Carlton's strength... what's our strength?

Edited May 28, 2011 by Cards13

[titan_uranus 22,466]

Skills look poor when:

1) It is wet. Not a great excuse given this is a winter game, so there's work to be done there.

2) You are under pressure. This is key. When we are winning, we pull off the risky moves because there is less pressure from the opposition and our confidence is up. At the moment we are falling behind, the other side is pressuring us hard, and we fall apart. This is key. Bailey won't be coaching us next year if he can't work out how to get our players to perform under pressure.

3) You are missing 9 of your best 22, and the replacements consist of Warnock, MacDonald, Bate, Newton, Evans and Nicholson. With a full side, we get rid of these players who are honest, and try their best, but can't dispose of the ball, and replace them with Grimes, Trengove, Scully, Bail, Garland, Davey, Tapscott etc., who can.

[DeeZee 6,759]

.... Chok.... come on mate because we spent so little time in our fwd 50 you can excuse the lack of 1%ers to allow us to keep the ball in the fwd half? No maka no sense to me.

Also it's Carlton's strength... what's our strength?

Exactly!..what are we known for , whats our strength?

We dont seem to have a style of play or strenght in any area.

Not to be known a strong pressure team, is an indictment on itself!

What we are known as, is a team that when the pressure is applied, can fold quite easily.